Let's Call Her Barbie - by Renée Rosen

About the Book

"She's an icon. She's fun and aspirational. She's stirring controversy and outrage. Her name is Barbie. In 1956, Ruth Handler, cofounder of a budding toy company, embarks on a mission to upend the marketplace by creating a controversial doll: one that looks like a grown woman. Unlike the current trend of baby dolls that reinforces traditional roles of motherhood, this doll will empower little girls to be and do anything. And Barbie is born. Not everyone sees Barbie as a a positive influence, but Ruth knows this doll is destined for greatness. With the help of head engineer Jack Ryan and fashion designer Stevie Klein, they forge ahead, their own identities becoming entwined with the persona of the doll. For Ruth, Barbie fills a void left by the mother who abandoned her and the daughter who resents her ambition. Jack, Mattel's unlikely Casanova, hides his deepest secrets behind the genius of his engineering, and Stevie pins her professional future and sense of self on Barbie's fashion designs. In the decades that follow, the Barbie team spins the doll into a cultural phenomenon. But with every great success comes the fall, and the problems at Mattel are just getting started. In the cutthroat world of toy-making, greed and public scandals threaten to tear down everything Ruth has built. But Barbie is more than just a doll for her - she's a legacy, one Ruth will do anything to protect. From USA Today bestselling author Renâee Rosen comes a riveting novel about the team of creative rebels who challenged convention, broke molds, and beat the odds to invent the most famous doll of all time"--

Book Synopsis

THE USA TODAY BESTSELLER ∙ She was only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, but she would change the world. Barbie is born in this bold novel by USA Today bestselling author Renée Rosen.

As featured in The New York Post ∙ RuPaul's Book Club ∙ Book Riot ∙ The Nerd Daily ∙ Chicago Review of Books ∙ and more!

"A fresh and fun take on Barbie lore...clever and satisfying."--Shelby Van Pelt, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures

When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she's setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.

In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth's vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything.

As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels--head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie's fashion--she knows they're working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground.

In the decades to come--through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions-- each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll--she's a legacy.

Includes a Reader's Guide and Exclusive Vintage Barbie Photos!

Review Quotes

"What a fresh and fun take on Barbie lore! Let's Call Her Barbie pulls off a feat: while digging deep into the history behind America's favorite doll, it's also a clever and satisfying exploration of creativity, feminism, and what it truly means to make art."--Shelby Van Pelt, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures

"Think you know Barbie? Think again, in this delightful, fast-paced, compassionate, and well-researched story, Renee Rosen skillfully takes everything you think you know and turns it on its head . . . Choose this one for your book club if you want the conversation to flow. I promise you everyone will want to talk about this excellent and fascinating book."--Elizabeth Letts, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Ride of Her Life

"Renee Rosen's research and deft writing bring Barbie--and those who brought her into the world--to vivid pink life and make Let's Call Her Barbie a riveting read for anyone who loves historical fiction, strong women (real and otherwise), Barbie the doll, Barbie the movie, or stories about the American dream."--Viola Shipman, USA Today bestselling author of The Page Turner

"Bold. Tenacious. Resolute. Renee Rosen's Let's Call Her Barbie vividly brings to life the incredible journey of Ruth Handler, the woman behind the iconic doll. Through impeccable research and masterful storytelling, Rosen captures Handler's fierce determination and the challenges she faced as a woman breaking barriers in a male-dominated world. Impossible to put down, this is a riveting portrayal of a flawed yet awe-inspiring visionary. . . . An absolute must-read."--Karma Brown, #1 international bestselling author of What Wild Women Do

"Renée Rosen's novel about the creators of the Barbie doll is inspired and brilliant. . . . As a former Barbie girl myself, I was riveted!"--Gill Paul, international bestselling author of Scandalous Women

"Rosen's dynamic dialogue and raw portrayal of Ruth Handler, the real-life mastermind behind Barbie, showcase the determined, hardworking woman that she was without ignoring the mistakes she, and the others, made along the way . . . The poignant Let's Call Her Barbie is nonetheless inspiring."--Shelf Awareness

"Rosen vividly portrays her characters and deftly balances covering both the highs and lows of their personal lives and the professional challenges that arise along the way . . . With cultural interest in Barbie still sky high, this novel is a great choice for historical fiction readers interested in strong, complex women, both in and out of the toy aisle."--Library Journal (starred review)

"A fictional retelling of Barbie's origin story, from Ruth's first brainstorm until she leaves Mattel in the 1970s, Rosen's novel is infused with pathos and wit."--Kirkus

"Barbie fans will delight in Rosen's epic reimagining of the doll's origin story."--Publishers Weekly

"Full of behind-the-scenes drama and triumphs across decades, Renée Rosen's well-researched novel shines as bright as Barbie!"--First For Women

About the Author

Renée Rosen is the USA Today bestselling author of Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, The Social Graces, Park Avenue Summer, Windy City Blues, White Collar Girl, What the Lady Wants, and Dollface. Renée lives in Chicago.